13
King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba anything she wanted, whatever she asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal generosity. Then she and her servants went back to her country.
14
The gold that came to Solomon in one year weighed 49,950 pounds,
15
not counting [the gold] which came from the merchants, the traders' profits, all the Arab kings, and the governors of the country.
16
King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold, using 15 pounds of gold on each shield.
17
He also made 300 small shields of hammered gold, using four pounds of gold on each shield. The king put them in the hall [which he called] the Forest of Lebanon.
18
The king also made a large ivory throne and covered it with fine gold.
19
Six steps led to the throne. Carved into the back of the throne was a calf's head. There were armrests on both sides of the seat. Two lions stood beside the armrests.
20
Twelve lions stood on six steps, one on each side. Nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.
21
All King Solomon's cups were gold, and all the utensils for the hall [which he called] the Forest of Lebanon were fine gold. (Nothing was silver, because it wasn't considered valuable in Solomon's time.)
22
The king had a fleet headed for Tarshish with Hiram's fleet. Once every three years the Tarshish fleet would bring gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.
23
In wealth and wisdom King Solomon was greater than all the [other] kings of the world.